Rotating mill vise jaws

ABSTRACT

Rotating vise jaws comprising first, second, third, and forth elements used with a milling machine vise to hold objects having either parallel or nonparallel edges. Wherein, said first element consists of a vertical axis tool post adapted to fit either a movable or stationary wall disposed at a milling machine vise. Said vertical axis tool post disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a vertical axis for cooperating with said second element comprising a vertical axis vise jaw having beveled side walls and a correlative through hole for cooperating with said vertical axis. Thus, said vertical axis tool post is attached to a milling machine vise and said vertical axis vise jaw is connected to said vertical axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw with a reversible clamping face; wherein said vise jaw is rotatable about a vertical axis for holding objects having either parallel or nonparallel edges. 
     Wherein, said third element consists of a horizontal axis tool post having a correlative through hole for connecting said horizontal axis tool post to said vertical axis. said horizontal axis tool post disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a horizontal axis for cooperating with said forth element comprising a horizontal axis vise jaw having beveled side walls and a correlative through hole for cooperating with said horizontal axis. Thus, said vertical axis tool post is attached to a milling machine vise, said horizontal axis tool post is connected to said vertical axis, said horizontal axis vise jaw is connected to said horizontal axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw with a reversible clamping face, wherein said vise jaw is rotatable about a horizontal axis for holding objects having either parallel or nonparallel edges.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to milling machine vises and particularly theclamping jaws used in combination with these vises. At present, theopposing jaws remain parallel at their clamping faces so that theyprovide adequate clamping pressure for holding objects having parallelsides. However, the present jaws do not provide adequate clampingpressure for holding objects with beveled or tapered sides, whereas theparallel clamping faces cannot align with the none parallel sides oftapered or beveled objects.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide self-aligningvise jaws for milling machine vises wherein the vise jaws rotate abouteither a vertical axis or a horizontal axis for holding objects havingeither parallel edges or objects having non parallel edges. The rotatingjaws comprises four elements: a vertical axis tool post, a vertical axisvise jaw, a horizontal axis tool post, and a horizontal axis vise jaw.Said elements are constructed of wear resistant tool steel usingconventional machine shop equipment to provide a smooth telescoping fitwith minimum side play; wherein the vertical axis vise jaw, horizontalaxis tool post, and horizontal axis vise jaw can be connected anddisconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanicaltools.

It is another object of this invention to provide self-aligning visejaws rotatable about either a vertical axis or a horizontal axis;wherein the vise jaws are connectable with the top face up or down, thusthe clamping faces are reversible. This is an important feature, whereasfixed stops are often attached to the vise jaws and these stops have tobe moved when the work piece is rotated in the milling machine vise. Atpresent the vise jaws are not conveniently reversible without usingother mechanical tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the vertical axis tool post and vertical axis jawused to hold beveled work pieces 001 and 002.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the vertical axis tool post andvertical axis jaw separated from a milling machine vise 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the horizontal axis tool post and horizontal axis jawused to hold beveled work pieces 003 and 004.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the horizontal axis tool post andhorizontal axis jaw separated from the vertical axis tool post 1 and amilling machine vise 3.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the vertical axis tool post assembly.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the horizontal axis tool postassembly.

FIG. 9 an isometric view showing the vertical axis jaw.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing the horizontal axis jaw.

Reference number 1 is the vertical axis tool post assembly.

Reference number 2 is the vertical axis vise jaw.

Reference number 3 is a milling machine vise and is shown for referenceonly. The jaw movement mechanism can be either manual or automated andis not shown for clarity to better illustrate a generic milling machinevise.

Reference number 4 are jaw fasteners and shown for reference only.

Reference number 5 is the horizontal axis tool post assembly.

Reference number 6 is the horizontal axis vise jaw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 3, 7, and 9,

The vertical axis tool post comprises a wall 50 having correlativethrough holes 51 for attaching the vertical axis tool post to a millingmachine vise 3 having a wall disposing pre-existing threaded holes 4Afor cooperating with fasteners 4 and holes 51. Wall 50 disposes a shaft70 having a chamfered edge 72 for cooperating with a through hole 130disposed at vertical axis jaw 2. Vertical axis Jaw 2 disposing beveledside walls 132 for cooperating with shaft 70 and through hole 130 toprovide unobstructed clockwise and counter clockwise rotation ofvertical axis jaw 2 about axis 70. Wall 50 and shaft 70 havecorresponding keyways 52 and 71 for cooperating with a key stock 60 toprovide and maintain correct orientation of the wall and shaft. Wall 50,key stock 60, and shaft 70 are joined using counter sunk holes 53,through holes 61, and threaded holes 73 cooperating with fasteners 80.Reference number 133 are opposing shoulders to break sharp corners andreinforce clamping face 134. Reference number 131 are chamfered edges athole 130 for cooperating with chamfered edge 72 at shaft 70.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 8, and 10,

The horizontal axis tool post comprises a wall 90 having a through hole91 for connecting the horizontal axis tool post to the vertical axistool post 1. Wall 90 disposes a shaft 110 having chamfered ends 112 forcooperating with a through hole 140 disposed at horizontal axis jaw 6.Horizontal axis jaw 6 disposing beveled side walls 142 for cooperatingwith shaft 110 and through hole 140 to provide unobstructed clockwiseand counter clockwise rotation of horizontal axis jaw 6 about axis 110.Wall 90 and shaft 110 have corresponding keyways 93 and 111 forcooperating with a key stock 100 to provide and maintain correctorientation of wall 90 and shaft 110. Wall 90, key stock 100, and shaft110 are joined using counter bored holes 94, through holes 101, andthreaded holes 113 cooperating with fasteners 120. Reference number 143is a shoulder to break a sharp edge and reinforce clamping face 144.Reference number 141 are chamfered edges at hole 140 for cooperatingwith chamfered edge 112 at shaft 110.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3,

To use the vertical axis vise jaw 2 for holding objects with a taperededge 001 and 002, the operator attaches the vertical axis tool post 1 toa milling machine vise 3 using threaded fasteners 4 cooperating withexisting threaded holes 4A. The operator then slides hole 130 oververtical axis 70, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw 2 rotatableabout a vertical axis 70. The vertical axis vise jaw 2 is connectable tovertical axis 70 with the top face 135 either up or down, Thus, clampingface 134 is reversible.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6

To use the horizontal axis vise jaw 6 for holding objects with a bevelededge 003 and 004, the operator removes vertical axis jaw 2 then slideshole 91 over vertical axis 70. The operator then slides hole 140 overhorizontal axis 110, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw 6rotatable about a horizontal axis 110. The horizontal axis vise jaw 6 isconnectable with the top face 145 either up or down, thus clamping face144 is reversible. The horizontal axis tool post 5 is connectable withthe top face 95 either up or down; thus planar ends 96 are reversible.

I claim:
 1. Rotating mill vise jaws for holding objects having eitherparallel edges or objects having nonparallel edges; said vise jawscomprising first, second, third, and forth elements used in combinationwith a milling machine vise having at least one movable wall disposingthreaded holes for cooperating with removable fasteners for attachingsaid first element comprising: a vertical axis tool post consisting of awall having correlative through holes for cooperating with saidremovable fasteners to attach said vertical axis tool post to a millingmachine vise; said wall having planar front and rear faces, planar topand bottom faces, and two opposing planar end faces; wherein said frontface disposes a cylindrical shaft defining a vertical axis having achamfered end and precise outside diameter for cooperating with saidsecond element comprising: a vertical axis vise jaw having planar topand bottom faces, two opposing beveled faces, two opposing shoulders,and a planar clamping face; said vise jaw having a through hole drilledperpendicular to said top and bottom faces, wherein said through holedisposes chamfered edges and a precise inside diameter for cooperatingwith said vertical axis defined at said vertical axis tool post.
 2. Thetool of claim 1, wherein said planar front face and vertical axisdefined at said vertical axis tool post have corresponding keywayscooperating with a key stock for providing correct orientation of saidwall and vertical axis.
 3. The tool of claim 2, wherein saidcorresponding keyways and key stock dispose correlated holes forcooperating with threaded fasteners to significantly join said wall, keystock, and vertical axis, thereby defining said vertical axis tool post.4. The tool of claim 1, wherein said outside diameter defined at saidvertical axis defined at said vertical axis tool post and said insidediameter defined at said vertical axis vise jaw have a smoothtelescoping relationship with minimum side play, wherein said vise jawand vertical axis can be connected and disconnected with minimum effortand without using other mechanical tools.
 5. The tool of claim 4,wherein said vertical axis vise jaw is connectable to said vertical axiswith said top face either up or down; thus said planar clamping face isreversible.
 6. The tool of claim 1, wherein said vertical axis tool postis attached to said milling machine vise and said vertical axis vise jawis connected to said vertical axis, thereby providing a self-aligningvise jaw having a reversible clamping face, wherein said vertical axisvise jaw is rotatable about said vertical axis for holding objectshaving either parallel edges or objects having non parallel edges. 7.The tool of claim 1, wherein said vertical axis vise jaw and said thirdelement are interchangeable.
 8. The tool of claim 1, wherein said thirdelement comprises a horizontal axis tool post consisting of planar topand bottom faces, planar front and rear faces, and two opposing planarend faces; said horizontal axis tool post having a through hole drilledperpendicular to said top and bottom faces, wherein said through holedisposes chamfered edges and a precise inside diameter for cooperatingwith said vertical axis having a chamfered end and a precise outsidediameter.
 9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said front face defined atsaid horizontal axis tool post disposes a cylindrical shaft defining ahorizontal axis having chamfered ends and a precise outside diameter forcooperating with said forth element comprising: A horizontal axis visejaw having planar top and bottom faces, two opposing beveled faces, twoopposing planar end faces, a beveled clamping face, and one shoulder;said vise jaw having a through hole drilled perpendicular to saidopposing end faces, wherein said through hole disposes chamfered edgesand a precise inside diameter for cooperating with said horizontal axis.10. The tool of claim 9, wherein said front face and horizontal axisdefined at said horizontal axis tool post have corresponding keywayscooperating with a key stock for providing correct orientation of saidfront face and horizontal axis.
 11. The tool of claim 10, wherein saidkeyways, key stock, and horizontal axis have correlative holes forcooperating with threaded fasteners to significantly join said frontface, key stock, and horizontal axis, thereby defining said horizontalaxis tool post.
 12. The tool of claim 8, wherein horizontal axis toolpost having top and bottom faces and a through hole having a preciseinside diameter for cooperating with said vertical axis to provide asmooth telescoping relationship with minimum side play; whereby saidhorizontal axis tool post and said vertical axis can be connected anddisconnected with minimum effort and without using other mechanicaltools.
 13. The tool of claim 12, wherein said horizontal axis tool postis connectable to said vertical axis with said top face either up ordown; thus said planar end faces defined at said horizontal axis toolpost are reversible.
 14. The tool of claim 9, wherein said outsidediameter defined at said horizontal axis and said inside diameterdefined at said horizontal axis vise jaw have a smooth telescopingrelationship with minimum side play, wherein said horizontal axis visejaw and horizontal axis can be connected and disconnected with minimumeffort and without using other mechanical tools.
 15. The tool of claim14, wherein said horizontal axis vise jaw is connectable to saidhorizontal axis with said top face either up or down; thus said beveledclamping face is reversible.
 16. The tool of claims 6, 8, and 9, whereinas an alternative, said vertical axis tool post is attached to a millingmachine vise, said horizontal axis tool post is connected to saidvertical axis, and said horizontal axis vise jaw is connected to saidhorizontal axis, thereby providing a self-aligning vise jaw having areversible clamping face, wherein said vise jaw is rotatable about saidhorizontal axis for holding objects having either parallel edges orobjects having non parallel edges.